{
  "id": 19056011,
  "title": "Godzilla Minus Zero crushes box-office rivals with record US$31.6 million debut",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/godzilla-minus-zero-crushes-box-office-rivals-with-record-us-31-6",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T00:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/godzilla-minus-zero-movie-6534926"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Godzilla Minus Zero, a Japanese-language sequel, shattered box-office records, debuting with an astonishing US$31.6 million (S$40.53 million) opening weekend in North America. This marks the highest ever for a live-action foreign-language film at the North American box office. Takashi Yamazaki's film was a significant hit compared to Warner Bros.' animated movie, The Cat in the Hat, which opened with US$20.5 million. Yamazaki, the filmmaker behind Godzilla Minus One, which won the Oscar for best visual effects, has revived a long-running franchise rooted in Japan's cinematic history. The film, produced by Toho and distributed by GKids, is set in post-WWII Japan. No live-action foreign language film has opened with a larger weekend haul, except for the 2004 Passion of the Christ, with a US$83.8 million opening - but it was in Aramaic. Godzilla Minus Zero outdid the previous record of US$17.9 million set by 2004's Hero. The film's success also highlights the growing appeal of international non-English productions to American audiences. Godzilla Minus Zero also enjoyed a wide release across various countries, debuting simultaneously in its home country and in the United States. In Japan, it grossed around US$17 million over the weekend. Toho Global's president, Koji Ueda, expressed the historic significance of Godzilla Minus Zero's opening, crediting the near-simultaneous global release. The film has garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences, with a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an \"A\" CinemaScore. Godzilla Minus Zero, with a budget under US$20 million, is poised to surpass its predecessor's record earnings of US$57.1 million. As Godzilla celebrates his 72nd birthday, Godzilla Minus Zero has ignited a fresh wave of interest in the franchise.",
  "summary": "The Japanese-language sequel topped the North American box office, setting a new opening-weekend record for a live-action foreign-language film.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ proves bigger can be better",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/godzilla-minus-zero-proves-bigger-can-be-better",
        "published": "2026-11-06T00:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nippon.com",
        "title": "“Godzilla Minus Zero” Brings King Ghidorah to Clash with the King of Monsters in Postwar Japan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/godzilla-minus-zero-brings-king-ghidorah-to-clash-with-the-king-of",
        "published": "2026-11-06T03:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ is another instant classic",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/godzilla-minus-zero-is-another-instant-classic",
        "published": "2026-11-07T00:39:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}